tree saver vs. metal spouts for gravity on bags - which runs better?

[johnallin]

I'm curious to see if anyone has done a test to see if the tree saver spouts run as freely as the 5/16" metal canadian spouts into sacs or buckets?
8710


I have been using the tree saver type for the past 3 years with bags, and last night got to thinking that they look a lot like the old hamster water bottles, that would only drip when touched. I'm not sure it it applies here; but it seems that unless the pressure in the tree was significant, the sap may not be able to overcome the friction to exit the round hole...therefore running less that a more open style.
I'm also guessing that when used with drop tubes that the water columm overcomes the fricton at the openning and allows them to run freely, or at least longer as pressure drops.

When I looked at my older aluminum spouts, the ends were more "trough" like and not a simple round hole at the end. And to be honest, I swear I got more sap per tap when I was using the metal spouts...

I'm thinking of cutting notches into the ends of a few to see if they run any differently.
Any thougts on this? Thank you.

[happy thoughts]

I'm curious to see if anyone has done a test to see if the tree saver spouts run as freely as the 5/16" metal canadian spouts into sacs or buckets?
8710


I have been using the tree saver type for the past 3 years with bags, and last night got to thinking that they look a lot like the old hamster water bottles, that would only drip when touched. I'm not sure it it applies here; but it seems that unless the pressure in the tree was significant, the sap may not be able to overcome the friction to exit the round hole...therefore running less that a more open style.
I'm also guessing that when used with drop tubes that the water columm overcomes the fricton at the openning and allows them to run freely, or at least longer as pressure drops.

It won't hurt to test and the results should be interesting but FWIW- ,on gravity, sap will only drip when the pressure inside the tree is greater than outside it. That's different than a hamster bottle where the pressure inside and outside are equal.

[jmayerl]

I used a few hundred of those, a few hundred if the smart spouts last year with sacks, THERE WAS NO DiFFeRENCE. You answered your own question when you said pressure. When a tree is "running it is under significant pressure(up to 15psi). It has no problem pushing the sap out of any spout. I just prefer the CDl because they are easy to get the holders off.